Corning High sees fast finishes at Orland track meet

ORLAND >> Orland High senior Yaneth Munoz is the top returning 100-meter sprinter in the Northern Section, making her the favorite heading into track and field season.

"I'm not going to say I am," Munoz said.

Even if she won't, Munoz's times do.

Munoz set personal records for hand times in the 100 and 200 and anchored a winning 400 relay as well, all part of a standout Wednesday performance as the Trojans hosted Corning and Willows in a three-team meet to prep for the upcoming spring season that bypassed team scoring to focus on individuals.

Munoz won the 100 in 12.55 seconds, even bettering the 12.66 she ran at the section finals at West Valley last year that left her third behind now graduated Lily Brose of Red Bluff and Foothill's Hailey Jackson, who tied for first in 12.48.

On Wednesday, Munoz's closest competition were her teammates. Gelsey Quiroz was second in the 100 in 12.84.

With Quiroz also turning in 12-second times, the Trojans' 400 relay seemed set for a good day. The Orland quartet of Mireya Lopez, Quiroz and Cindy Keomounepane didn't disappoint before handing off to Munoz for the anchor leg and what ended up as a 51.34.

For her final event, Munoz closed the 200 with a 26.69, a full second better than Lopez's second-place finish.

This early in the season, Munoz is focused on her time and perpetually lowering it, not where she stacks up to the other sprinters in the section.

"I just have got to work hard, hopefully get a 12.5 in automatic time so if I do then I'll be happy that I'm getting closer to getting a 12.4," she said.

Plenty of other standouts began what they hope are runs to section titles as well.

Corning's Rogelio Silva, who finished fourth at the section finals last year as a junior behind three seniors, won the 3,200 Wednesday in 10:46, a time that was in part reflective of him also running the 1,600 earlier in a winning time of 4:47.

Orland's Kavi Ram won the boys' 100 in 10.95, bettering his previous best as well and beating friendly rival Corning's Ivan Alvarado, who was second. The two tied for best long jump at 20 feet, 9 inches.

"We've been neck and neck for a while. I got him last year at divisions then he got me at sections," Ram said. "Running felt great. Hit a few tweaks on the jumps that I can work on, but it's early in the season so I have a lot of time."

Those two, who finished fourth and fifth in the long jump at sections, don't see anything changing.

"It's always back and forth. He wins. I win. He wins. I win. That's how it is," Alvarado said. "We've got a bunch of rivals this year. It's going to be a good section this year."

Ram also ran the third leg of the winning 400 relay as well, joining Jesse Gonzalez, Arthur Flynn and anchor Trevor Zimmerman for a 45.34 time. Corning finished in 45.5

Orland's Becky Ramirez claimed two wins Wednesday as well, taking the girls' long jump in 16-4 and the triple jump in 32 feet.